tracked leader until over 3f out, remained close up, ridden and every chance from over 1f out, not quicken towards finish
keen, tracked leaders, steadied and taken back towards rear 4f out, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened
keen, mid-division, ridden and switched right over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not pace to challenge
raced wide, held up, improved to track leaders halfway, ridden and not handle bend 2f out, no impression soon after
close up, tracked leader halfway, ridden to lead over 1f out, stayed on
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
steadied start, held up in rear, pushed along over 1f out, no impression
held up in rear, ridden 2f out, stayed on final furlong, not reach leaders
A good but difficult race to call. COOL ART should make the frame and we'll pin our hopes on him but Set The Trend and Geneva Geyser are completely unexposed. We know that Cool Art is competitive from his current mark as he would have gone close here last time if he'd been given less to do by his jockey. There's always a danger that the same scenario will unfold given his style of running but he has improved for the fitting of blinkers and should go well. Set The Trend landed some handsome bets when making a winning debut despite running green but the handicapper has erred on the side of caution in allotting a mark of eighty. Geneva Geyser is just 2lbs lower following his defeat of a decent yardstick in December; that mark looks fair enough for a colt with plenty of scope and he's feared. Takeover Bid may prove more effective at Southwell and Wolverhampton whilst the likes of Grand Honour and Belated Silver probably need to pull out a little more in order to lower the colours of Cool Art.
Takeover Bid (USA) 9-4 (9-4) Led over 4f out, ridden 2f out, hung left inside final furlong, ridden out, won at Southwell 6f hcp 0-85 (4) fbs beating Fesko (9-7) by 1l, 5 ran.
Cool Art (IRE) 5-2fav (9-6) Mid-division and keen, ridden and swtched right approaching final furlong, ran on strongly, not reach leaders, 3rd of 9, 1l behind Song of Praise (8-3) at Lingfield 7f 2yo hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Set The Trend 4-1 (9-3) Keen, hampered after 2f, chased leaders over 3f out, ridden to chase leader entering final 2f, joined leader 1f out, driven and stayed on to lead final 75 yards, won at Lingfield 7f 3yo mdn (5) pol in Feb beating Dance And Dance (9-3) by 3/.
Geneva Geyser (GER) 7-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase leader over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ridden clear, won at Great Leighs 6f 2yo mdn (4) pol in Dec beating Romantic Queen (8-12) by 2l, 8 ran.
Cyflymder (IRE) 7-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 13, 12l behind Go Go Green (8-12) at Pontefract 6f 2yo hcp 0-85 (5) gd in Oct.
Auld Arty (FR) 7-1 (8-12) Led, pressed from 2f out, headed narrowly 1f out, one pace, kept on well for 3rd, 3rd of 7, 2l behind Markyg (9-7) at Kempton 7f 3yo hcp (4) pol in Feb.
Grand Honour (IRE) 7-2 (8-11) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead narrowly 1f out, soon headed and outpaced by winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 7, 2l behind Markyg (9-7) at Kempton 7f 3yo hcp (4) pol in Feb.
Belated Silver (IRE) 2-1fav (9-7) Tracked leaders, ridden and close up 2f out, held when slightly hampered inside final furlong, 6th of 10, 3l behind Trigger McCann (9-0) at Lingfield 7f 2yo hcp (5) pol in Nov.
